Ryan Maxwell has warned his in-form Sittingbourne players they are still on trial as he plots an Isthmian South East title challenge next season.

The Brickies are finishing 2022/23 as one of the form teams in the division, with boss Maxwell transforming their fortunes since succeeding Nick Davis in January.

They’ve lost just twice in 17 games under the Northern Irishman, climbing from third-bottom to 10th.

They continued their fine form with maximum points over Easter, winning 3-1 at East Grinstead on Saturday and beating Corinthian 3-0 at home on Easter Monday.

Maxwell intends to fight for the title next season and wants to be certain he has the right players on board.

That means there’s still plenty to play for in the final two games, starting with struggling Burgess Hill at home this Saturday (3pm).

“Now we’ve got safety ticked off, we can have a look at what we’re trying to build for next season,” said Maxwell, whose side are 11 games unbeaten.

“I’ve made the players aware they are all on trial, so they’ve got to impress me until the last kick of the season, not just with their performances but their character and their mentality.

“This is going to be an intense place next season and everybody needs to be able to handle that.

“I’ve put them under immense pressure to get the stats we’re getting recognition for and I’m telling them I want to be in a position where we’re playing in these games to win the league.

“I’m demanding clean sheets, I’m demanding comfortable wins and that’s the way to practise it.

“They’ve all come through that and they’ve got a great chance of staying but there’s still two games to go.

“Winning the league is not something that’s been discussed at Sittingbourne for a long time. Andrew (Marjeram, vice-chairman) is the one who got me here and he’s happy with what he’s seen. He knows where it can go.

“I did a similar job at Walthamstow where we stayed up and really threatened in my first full season.

“Certainly at the bare minimum, I’m looking to be threatening at the very top of the league next season.

“That’s the goal and Andrew is going to assist me to do it.”

Donvieve Jones (2) and Mitchell May scored at East Grinstead, with Corey Davidson, Chaynie Burgin and May on target against Corinthian.

Sittingbourne have won four league games in a row for the first time since 2019, while 12 clean sheets - including seven in 17 matches under Maxwell - is their best return since 2011.

It’s been quite the turnaround with Bourne going 11 games without a win before Maxwell’s appointment.

“The goal when I came in was to not get relegated,” he said.

“Let’s be clear on that, it was to get them out of the mire.

“They were 18th at that point and had the second-worst form in the league.

“I knew an overhaul was required and it’s credit to everybody - and I mean everybody because it doesn’t work unless everybody buys in to what you’re trying to do.

“It’s been a fantastic turnaround and I’m very proud of what we’ve done.

“I’m a big advocate of signing the person first and the player second, particularly in these circumstances, because it won’t be an individual that gets you out of trouble, it’ll be the collective.

“I looked around the changing room on Monday and I knew I already had players who wouldn’t let me down.

“You get to know players over a period of time and you start to hang your hat on them.

“Everybody’s gutted the season’s ending but delighted to be safe and sound.”